On Wednesday 11th June
2014, members of Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO)
took a stand against terrorism and other social vices plaguing the nation.
Contrary to the widespread
impression already created in the media, what the CLO did was not a protest but
a peacefully rally to take a stand on the prevailing situation in the country.
It is beyond Chibok and Bring Back Our Girls slogan.
In the rally along Old Market Road,
Onitsha, Anambra State, The CLO joined the rest of the world in condemning
terrorism under any guise it is being perpetrated. We called for the
unconditional release of the abducted school girls and total eradication of all
forms of terrorism, religious extremism and corruption in the country.
We noted that the school girls
abducted since April 14, 2014 have been denied their right to life, right to
personal liberty, right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of movement
among others as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria Chapter 4 as amended.
We called on the proponents of
terrorism and bombings in Nigeria to remember that human life is sacred and no
one has any reason to unjustly snuff life out of another person.
We reiterated the stand already
taken by our sister organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties
and Rule of Law that perpetrators of Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency should
be tried in the International Criminal Court or the special United Nations
Court or Tribunal.
We also observed that while
negotiations and dialogue are ingredients of democratic process, it will be
suicidal to engage in swap deal with the Boko Haram insurgents.
Rather, government should still explore other diplomatic ways of ensuring that
the Chibok saga is resolved and terrorism abated in the country.
We also advised Nigerians who make
political and inciting statements on the present security situation to desist
from such but should find ways of addressing whatever is confronting us as a
nation.
We made reference to the Americans
who see their presidents as a status symbol of their great American citizenship
and don’t unnecessarily vilify their Head of State like some are doing
presently in Nigeria.
On the State of the Nation, we
reminded the government that the security and welfare of the citizen remains
its primary responsibility as enshrined in Section 14 (2)b of the Constitution.
We condemned the recent hike in
electricity tariff as introduced by the National Electricity Regulatory
Commission. We also called on the Electricity Distribution companies to ensure
that power consumers get their prepaid meters to avoid exploitation and
estimated billing system which has been the general practice in most parts of
the country.
We also reminded the Federal
Government of Nigeria on the need to fight corruption with utmost commitment
and sincerity. The seeming deadlock in the prosecution of petroleum subsidy
thieves, the prevailing culture of impunity and sleaze in the petroleum sector
that has ensured the continuing importation of refined fuel instead of
rehabilitation of our refineries. The non availability of kerosene at the
subsidized rate of N50 and various ways the common man suffer in the midst of
plenty in Nigeria.
On Anambra State, we commended the
executive Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on the foot prints of his
administration so far within the past 90 days . We reminded the governor on the
need to ensure sustainability and supervision on his security strategies. We
called for effective supervision on the activities of the Joint Task force set
up in the state to ensure that their operations still fall between the ambit of
rule of law and respect for human rights.
We noted that some of the “Operation
Kpochapu” teams have abdicated from their responsibility to convert their
vehicle into extortion basket where residents, commercial cyclists and traders
are harassed and brutalized with the intent to collect illicit money by some of
the policemen on duty.
We also raised the alarm that
Anambra State Police Command still ranks the highest in some Divisions and Special
Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) units where astronomical bail fees and arbitrary
arrests are committed daily.
As we were at the last segment of
press interview after the rally, some group of boys suddenly joined us at the
venue. They pretended to be listening to our discussion before they suddenly
turned violent hitting our members and journalists with blows and stones.
They snatched our placards which bore the inscription of our positions on the
rally as all of us ran in different directions for safety.
The hoodlums who were
later identified to be MASSOB members also traced the Minaj Broadcast
International (MBI) reporter to a store where he ran for cover and demanded for
the recorded tape used in the rally. Unfortunately for them, they collected the
wrong tape as the reporter being a clever young man had already hidden the
correct tape in the store before they could trace him.
Contrary to some media reports that
the rally was botched, we have already finished our programme and was at the
last lap of the press interview before the boys stormed the place. Some reports
also said that the CLO leader was beaten to coma and that he alleged that
somebody from the presidency hijacked the protest while another reported that
the MASSOB leaders who claimed responsibility for the attack said that the
rally was sponsored by politicians to smear the image of the presidency.
All these are lies from the pit of
hell because the CLO chairman reportedly beaten to coma was the same person who
spoke to reporters after the incident and also attended other programmes of the
day in Awka till evening with the same clothes he wore to the rally.
The rally never had any political
undertone while no politician sponsored it. The Chairman never pointed accusing
finger on anybody in government as the sponsor of the violence meted on their
members.
In all, we thank God that the rally
was a huge success while no casualties was recorded after the incident. All the
journalists from the print and electronic media who covered the event all left
with their gadgets intact while those who attacked us though misinformed,
arrived late and even succeeded in promoting our cause.
Comrade
Aloysius Attah,
Chairman,
Civil
Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch.
attahcomrade
@yahoo.com
